By Eniola Amadu
MPs have warned that the UK lacks frameworks to protect itself from a military attack as the government pledged to enhance preparedness by establishing new weapons factories.
The barriers before the government and defence industry revealed in a report by the Commons defence committee as regards the strength of the UK to defend itself and meet its Nato responsibilities amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
They insisted the public be informed about the extent of the danger and the required response saying, “The UK lacks a plan for defending the homeland and overseas territories.”
Labour MP and the committee’s chair, MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi mentioned that: “[Vladimir] Putin’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, unrelenting disinformation campaigns and repeated incursions into European airspace mean that we cannot afford to bury our heads in the sand.
“We have repeatedly heard concerns about the UK’s ability to defend itself from attack. Government must be willing to grasp the nettle and prioritise homeland defence and resilience” he added.
Dhesi called for civic engagement saying “In achieving this, government cannot shy away from direct engagement with the public. Wars aren’t won just by generals, but by the whole of the population getting behind the armed forces and playing our part.
“There needs to be a coordinated effort to communicate with the public on the level of threat we face and what to expect in the event of conflict.”
Close to 13 locations have been identified for the establishment of the new factories for the productions of ammunition and military explosives.
Defense Secretary, John Healey expects the commencement of the construction on the first facility to begin next year.
The proposed sites for the establishment of the factories are Teesside in north-east England, Milford Haven in Wales and Grangemouth in Scotland.
The defense secretary will say: “For too long our proud industrial heartlands saw jobs go away and not come back. We are changing that. Bringing new hope. This is a fundamental shift from the failed approach of the past.
“This is a new era of threat but the opportunity of this new era is a defence dividend from our record investment, measured in good jobs, thriving businesses, new skills for the British people.”
The government intends to construct a minimum of six new munitions and energetics plants before the next election, generating a minimum of 1,000 jobs.
Healey will say: “We are making defence an engine for growth, unambiguously backing British jobs and British skills as we make the UK better ready to fight and better able to deter future conflicts,” the defence secretary will say.
“This is the path that delivers national and economic security.”
In June, the MoD pledged an extra £1.5bn for defence spending on energetics and munitions.
